<h2>NRL Plans Historic 19-Round Season Change - Four Pointer Summary:</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-NRL reportedly considering slashing regular season from 27 rounds to 19 when 20th team enters competition around 2030</p> <p>-Each team would face every other club just once in proposed format, with a&nbsp;US-style conference system also under consideration</p> <p>-Wayne Bennett questions whether financial implications will allow the drastic schedule reduction to proceed</p> <p>-The NRL is weighing up historic schedule changes for a 20-team competition, potentially reducing regular season rounds significantly by 2030.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL Schedule Changes on the Horizon</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The NRL's traditional format could face its biggest shake-up in decades, with reports suggesting the league is seriously considering reducing the regular season from 27 rounds to just 19 when the competition expands to 20 teams.</p> <p>According to CODE Sports, this dramatic schedule reduction would ensure each team plays every other club exactly once - a fairer system than the current uneven draw that sees some teams benefit from easier fixtures. The proposed changes wouldn't take effect until around 2030 at the earliest, giving the league plenty of time to finalise details.</p> <p>A US-style conference system is also reportedly under consideration, which could revolutionise how NRL teams are grouped and scheduled. This format change could additionally create space for State of Origin to become a completely standalone series, free from regular-season interruptions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>PNG Chiefs Entry Complicates Timeline</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The introduction of the PNG Chiefs in 2028 adds another layer of complexity to these potential NRL schedule changes. With the Papua New Guinea-based team set to enter before the proposed 20-team format, the league will need to navigate an interim period with 19 teams.</p> <p>The timing coincides with crucial broadcast negotiations, as the current television rights deal expires at the end of 2027. With NRL viewership numbers reaching record highs this season, the game is positioned strongly for what's expected to be the largest broadcast deal in rugby league history.</p> <p>A 19-round competition featuring 20 teams would produce 190 regular-season games - only 14 fewer than the current 204-game format. However, the financial implications of fewer matches have raised concerns about whether such changes are economically viable.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bennett Questions Financial Viability</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Legendary coach Wayne Bennett has expressed scepticism about the proposed schedule reduction, highlighting the significant financial challenges that could derail the plans.</p> <p>"I don't care how many rounds we play, but it's about the money," Bennett stated. "Players won't accept being paid less, and clubs won't want to get less with NRL grants, and if we play less games."</p> <p>Bennett described the reduction from 27 to 19 rounds as a "pretty fair reduction" but questioned whether broadcasters would maintain the same financial commitment for fewer matches. The Rugby League Players' Association and clubs will ultimately need to approve any changes, particularly given the potential impact on salary caps and player payments.</p> <p>While fewer games could reduce player fatigue at season's end, Bennett noted that modern recovery methods have largely addressed this concern. The coach's pragmatic assessment reflects the complex balancing act between competition integrity, player welfare, and the commercial realities that drive professional rugby league.</p> <p>The proposed NRL schedule changes represent ambitious planning for the game's future, but significant hurdles remain before this vision becomes reality. With broadcast negotiations looming and multiple stakeholders to satisfy, the path to a 19-round season remains far from certain.</p>